MOTOR VEHICLE WITH FUSE BOX INCLUDING AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS PASSAGE TRUNK

Abstract

Motor vehicle comprising side members (2) arranged on each side of an engine compartment, a fuse box (10) fixed in the transverse direction of the vehicle to the outside of a side member (2), and a trunking (20) elongated along the axis of this side member (2), forming a passage for a bundle of electrical cables (22, 24) comprising a transverse branch entering the box (10), the trunking (20) being fixed on a lateral face (14) of the fuse box (10) which is turned towards the interior of the vehicle. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE WITH FUSE HOLDER BOX COMPRISING AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS PASSAGE TRUNK

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a fuse box arranged outside a side member, comprising a conduit for passing an electrical harness.

[0002] A known type of motor vehicle electrical system box, presented in particular by document FR-A1-3119126, comprises on one side a battery tray for the on-board network, supporting a current converter connecting this low-voltage on-board network to a high-voltage network of an electric traction machine of the vehicle, and on the other side a vertically arranged plate supporting an electronic computer.

[0003] The housing fixed above a side member of the engine compartment of the vehicle, receives from below an attached chute containing power supply harnesses for the battery and the current converter, which then pass between the battery tray and the support plate of the computer.

[0004] The guide channel for the electrical harnesses passing through the engine compartment on a side member, next to the power unit, is necessary to guide these harnesses in order to keep them in a protected space, which is sufficiently far from nearby mechanical parts. In particular, the power unit mounted on elastic suspensions must have around it a secure space which is necessary to avoid contact with the harnesses during its deflection movements coming from vibrations or the reaction torque applied to the drive wheels.

[0005] However, the chute attached to a side member next to the powertrain, to supply a nearby box, requires a specific design of this element including tests and validations, the manufacture of its components, its management and its supply to the vehicle assembly workshop.

[0006] Finally, an operator must attach the cable duct attached to the engine compartment side member, then pass the cable harnesses which must both be inserted into the duct and enter the box located next to it.

[0007] This results in an assembly that takes time and can be tricky to achieve, particularly for fairly rigid beams that have to pass through a complex route. The succession of beam passages also increases the risk of assembly errors, with poor arrangement leading to stresses or pressure on rigid elements which can cause wear and tear, leading to breakdown or safety problems.

[0008] The present invention aims in particular to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0009] To this end, it proposes a motor vehicle comprising side members arranged on each side of an engine compartment, a fuse box fixed in the transverse direction of the vehicle to the outside of a side member, and an elongated trunking along the axis of this side member, forming a passage for a bundle of electrical cables comprising a transverse branch entering the box, this vehicle being remarkable in that the trunking is fixed on a lateral face of the fuse box which is turned towards the interior of the vehicle.

[0010] An advantage of this motor vehicle is that by producing the housing including its integrated chute, the design, manufacture, assembly and management of a separate sub-assembly forming this chute is avoided. Savings in time, material and management costs are obtained, which reduce the costs of the vehicle.

[0011] Furthermore, by producing the housing with its chute in the same subassembly, adjustment problems between an outlet of a chute which would be fixed on this side member and the passage towards the interior of the housing are avoided for the transverse branch of the beam. The assembly of the beam is simplified by its installation in the chute which at the same time provides access to the housing.

[0012] The vehicle according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics which may be combined with each other.

[0013] Advantageously, the interior of the chute comprises a direct passage in the housing passing through the side face of the housing.

[0014] In this case, the lower face under the housing may include a descending boss comprising the direct passage to the chute.

[0015] Advantageously, the chute comprises an end opening facing the rear of the vehicle which is directed downwards towards the top of the side member.

[0016] Advantageously, the chute comprises an end opening facing the front of the vehicle which is directed parallel to the side member.

[0017] Advantageously, the chute is formed from the same piece as the housing.

[0018] Advantageously, the chute includes a cover completely closing its top.

[0019] In this case, advantageously the chute cover is formed in one piece with the inner side face of the housing by a plastic molding.

[0020] Furthermore, advantageously the cover is fitted onto the upper edges of the chute, covering them.

[0021] Advantageously, the housing is formed in one piece with the chute by a plastic molding.

[0022] The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will appear will become more clearly apparent from reading the description given below by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

[0023] [Fig-1] shows a fuse box fixed on a wheel arch of a vehicle according to the invention;

[0024] [Fig.2] shows the housing alone seen from the front;

[0025] [Fig.3] shows the housing alone seen from below; and

[0026] [Fig.4] is a sectional diagram of the housing according to section plane IV-IV.

[0027] Throughout the document the upper or above direction relates to a vehicle placed on horizontal ground, the transverse direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the inner side INT being turned towards the central axis of the vehicle, the front direction AV relates to the direction of travel of the vehicle.

[0028] Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show, in the front engine compartment of the vehicle, a fuse box 10 fixed on the front face of the left wheel arch 4, which is arranged entirely outside and above the left side member 2 of this compartment.

[0029] The housing 10 of substantially square horizontal section fixed to the outside of the spar 2, comprises in particular a front face 12 arranged transversely, and an internal lateral face 14 parallel to the spar. The housing 10 is closed on top by a cover 16 giving access to the fuses and other electrical components such as relays 48.

[0030] The chute 20 forms a channel parallel to the spar 2, molded in plastic material of the same piece as the housing 10, open on the top, which covers over its height a descending boss 42 formed under the lower face 40 of this housing, with on this covering a passage 44 directly connecting the interior of the chute 20 with that of the housing.

[0031] The chute 20 protrudes towards the rear of the housing 10, forming a descending rear opening 34 facing the top of the spar 2. The chute 20 also protrudes towards the front of the housing 10, forming a front opening 36 directed parallel to the spar 2.

[0032] The inner side face 14 is formed from a single piece with a chute cover 32 which fits onto the upper edges of this chute 20 to completely close its top, covering these edges to ensure a seal.

[0033] The fixing of the housing 10 on the wheel arch 4 automatically positions and fixes in the engine compartment the chute 20 which is integrated in this housing. After this installation of the housing 10 with its chute 20, an operator installs the electrical harness comprising a main harness 22 placed above the side member 2, behind the housing 10, which rises to take the rear inlet of the chute 34 facing downwards.

[0034] The operator then arranges the different branches of the bundle, comprising on the side a transverse branch 46 which easily enters the housing 10 by descending through the upper opening left free in the absence of the lateral face 14, to deposit it in the lower passage 44 at the base of this lateral face, opening into the boss below 42. The front branch 24 exits through the front opening 36 to supply different equipment 18 located in front of the fuse box 10.

[0035] At the end of installation of the electrical harness 22, 24 in the chute 20, the operator clips the side face 14 with the chute cover 32 to close the housing 10 and the top of this chute, which gives in the chute a space entirely protected from the mechanical parts located around it.

[0036] A chute 20 is obtained which is automatically positioned and fixed in the vehicle during the assembly of the fuse box 10, which avoids the design and management of an independent component, and its installation in the vehicle with additional fixing elements such as screws. With a single part to be manufactured, a reduction in the design and manufacturing costs of the components, and in the labor costs of management and assembly on the vehicle is obtained.

[0037] It will be noted that the passage of the beam between the chute 20 and the housing 10 being made from above in the absence of the inner lateral face of the housing 14, is very simple to apply. This avoids an exit from a chute then an entry into the housing which can be tricky and take time because of two successive passages which can have offsets coming from dispersions in the manufacture of the plastic elements.

[0038] Furthermore, the design of the chute 20, the production of the prototypes and the tests are completely integrated into those necessary for the housing 10, which avoids the implementation of a complementary development process.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle comprising side members (2) arranged on each side of an engine compartment, a fuse box (10) fixed in the transverse direction of the vehicle to the outside of a side member (2), and a channel (20) elongated along the axis of this side member (2), forming a passage for a bundle of electrical cables (22, 24) comprising a transverse branch (46) entering the box (10), characterized in that the channel (20) is fixed on a lateral face (14) of the fuse box (10) which is turned towards the interior of the vehicle.

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the interior of the chute (20) comprises a direct passage (44) in the housing (10) passing through the lateral face of the housing (14).

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower face under the housing (40) comprises a descending boss (42) comprising the direct passage (44) towards the chute (20).

4. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chute (20) has an end opening facing the rear of the vehicle (34) which is directed downwards towards the top of the side member (2).

5. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chute (20) has an end opening facing the front of the vehicle (34) which is directed parallel to the side member (2).

6. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chute (20) is formed in one piece with the housing (10) by a plastic molding.

7. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chute (20) comprises a cover (32) completely closing its top.

8. Motor vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the chute cover (32) is formed in one piece with the inner lateral face of the housing (14).

9. Motor vehicle according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the cover (32) is fitted onto the upper edges of the chute (20) by covering them.

10. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (10) is formed from the same part with the chute (20) by a plastic molding.

Images